Heng Li

Heng Li is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Engineering and Software Engineering at Polytechnique Montreal, Canada. He leads the Measurement, Observation, and Optimization of Software and its Evolution (MOOSE) lab, focusing on software engineering research with emphasis on observability, log analysis, and performance engineering. His work bridges academic research with practical industry applications, drawing from his prior experience as a software engineer at Synopsys and BlackBerry.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Computing from Queen's University, Canada
• M.Sc. from Fudan University, China
• B.Eng. from Sun Yat-sen University, China

Heng Li's research spans multiple critical areas in modern software engineering. His primary focus is on software monitoring and observability, where he develops techniques to make software systems more transparent and understandable during operation. He has made significant contributions to software log mining, creating novel approaches for parsing and analyzing log data to detect anomalies and performance issues. His work in intelligent operations of software systems applies machine learning to automate various aspects of software operations. Additionally, he researches software performance engineering and mining software repositories to understand development practices and improve software quality.

An analysis of Dr. Li's recent publications reveals a strong focus on practical applications of software analytics. His work consistently addresses real-world challenges in software observability, particularly log analysis and performance monitoring. A notable trend is his exploration of machine learning applications in software operations (AIOps), with increasing emphasis on efficient algorithms for log processing and anomaly detection. His research shows a progression from foundational techniques in log parsing to more sophisticated approaches for performance regression detection and privacy preservation in software logs. Many of his papers include empirical studies from industry settings, demonstrating his commitment to bridging the gap between academic research and industrial practice.

Professional Service:

• Program Committee member for multiple top software engineering conferences including ASE, ICSE, ESEC/FSE
• Active participation in workshops and special tracks related to software analytics and AIOps

Dr. Li leads the MOOSE (Measurement, Observation, and Optimization of Software and its Evolution) laboratory at Polytechnique Montreal. The lab focuses on developing innovative techniques for monitoring software systems, analyzing their behavior through logs and performance metrics, and optimizing their operation. Current projects in the lab include advanced log parsing algorithms, performance regression detection systems, and privacy-preserving techniques for software logs. The lab maintains strong connections with industry partners to ensure research relevance to real-world challenges.